The digital transformation of Industry and Finance is a great opportunity for Hungary

István Lepsényi, Minister of State for Economic Regulation and Development and Zoltán Horváth, Director of EIT Digital in Hungary

“The Digital Transformation of Industry and Finance” event at the Budapest CLC

EIT Digital is a leading European digital organisation driving Europe’s digital transformation. Offering innovative and entrepreneurial education programmes, opportunities to participate in international R&D projects, and best practices shared across its pan-European network, EIT Digital in Hungary, led by ELTE as the only partner in the CEE, has the ability to help Hungary’s digital transformation in Digital Industry and Digital Finance.

EIT Digital in Hungary organised an event called “The Digital Transformation of Industry and Finance” on the 30th of June at the Budapest CLC. The aim of the programme was to give a better understanding of the processes of digital industry and digital finance by the leading players and policy makers shaping these domains in Hungary, and provide an occasion to learn more about the EIT Digital Challenge.

István Lepsényi, Minister of State for Economic Regulation and Development said, „ The national actors’ discourse and cooperation is necessary for the digital transformation, but the partnerships with the European Union are also essential for a successful procedure. The areas of Digital Industry and Digital Finance are particularly sensitive to the emerging revolutionary new business models based on the startup ecosystem, and therefore these aims cannot be fully accomplished when limited within the borders of Hungary.” He added, „The cooperation with EIT Digital in Hungary, led by ELTE, is an excellent opportunity to give the Hungarian decision-makers and enterprises access to innovation and entrepreneurship knowledge as well as to let them participate in international R&D projects and to attract a significant number of young talents to the process of the digital transformation.”

Zoltán Horváth, Director of EIT Digital in Hungary, and Dean of the Faculty of Informatics of ELTE said: “EIT Digital is a leading European digital innovation and entrepreneurial education organisation driving Europe’s digital transformation. It delivers breakthrough digital innovations to the markets and breeds entrepreneurial talent for economic growth and improved quality of life in Europe. With its pan-European ecosystem of over 130 top European corporations, SMEs, startups, universities and research institutes, it definitely has the ability to contribute to introducing and launching innovative European digital technologies in Hungary. Education, innovation and R&D play major roles in the process of digital transformation. Both EIT Digital and ELTE focus on educating highly qualified digital professionals with strong innovative and entrepreneurial mind-set who will be able to support Europe’s and Hungary’s digital transformation.

Industry and finance are two of the most salient domains that are being disrupted by digital transformation in front of our eyes. They are also two among the five domains in which the EIT Digital Challenge is looking for outstanding scaleups.

During the event, the EIT Digital Challenge was also presented to the participants. Some startups took the opportunity and their representatives pitched the companies to the EIT Digital’s local business developers who offered them one-on-one consultations on how EIT Digital can support their companies' business goals. The application period for EIT Digital Challenge is open till 15th July 2016.

More information on the contest and the application form can be found on the website of EIT Digital Challenge. You can also find the promotional video of the Challenge here.